Balmain Spring/Summer 2015

Fri, Sep 26

With pop goddess Rihanna’s fashion week attendance at an all-time-high since her Parisian takeover earlier in the year, it was only a matter of time before the guest became the muse. Backstage at his show, Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing admitted that, yes, Bad Gal RiRi was one of his biggest inspirations. He also mentioned Beyoncé and Madonna circa Erotica, but it was RiRi’s sheer top, worn at the AW14 Balmain after-party last season that really got his creative juices flowing. “That’s what my collection is all about,” he told WWD. “There is nothing wrong in saying that sexy today is modern, and exploring the sexiness… I think that, for my generation, there is a lot of sexiness. I love the fact that sexiness is a power today.” He continued, “For me, sexiness is not only about a shape. It’s about see-through.”

The Collection

Being one of the go to labels for sexy-dressers like Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Rita Ora, Kate Bosworth and Miley Cyrus, it should come as no surprise that the collection would feature tightly bound pieces, sequins, leather, see-through fabrics, S&M throwbacks and cropped tops. That there is a given. But there was so much more- wide-legged palazzo pants that gave the looks a supermodel-esque coolness, tasteful cutouts and total late ‘80s/early ‘90s power suits. Once again, when it comes to the house of Balmain and woman who can afford it, sexiness most definitely sells.

Backstage Beauty: Hair and Makeup

Presenting: Tanning 101 with the House of Balmain, the A-list golden gleam! Evoking the tanned, sunbed-addicts of the 80s and 90s, makeup artist Tom Pecheaux brought his highlighter A-game hard. “The look of the show is actually much more than we usually do,” he told WWD backstage. “It’s every highlight, bronzer, gold, pink-gold, white-gold, copper-gold.” He continued. “It’s a real fake tan. It’s a super glow. I’m like, ‘Let’s go for it.’” And that he did, with each model, including Kendall Jenner and ELLE Favourite Rosie Huntington-Whiteley sent down the runway looking bronzed and babin’.

As for the hair, yet another show has embraced the slick and scrape, with stylist Sam McKnight pulling back the girl’s, coating it in Kiehl’s Crème with Silk Groom, mousse and spritzing it with water to create what he called “showered, swimming-pool hair.” Again with the sexiness. “I’m putting a little volume in the top with my hands,” he told WWD of his technique, “just running my fingers through it and pushing. The volume gives it a tougher [aspect]. It gives it that kind of tomboy-y thing, that slightly androgynous thing.” Learn to get the look

Balmain is available in Australia, visit Balmain.com for more information.